The Iloilo provincial government is seeking a PHP4.849 billion executive budget and a PHP1.25 billion for the Local Economic Enterprise office for 2025. The proposed budget is higher by around PHP700 million than this year's PHP4.174 billion executive budget. 'We try hard to make it a development. The emphasis is on the development side,' Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said in a press conference on Friday. He said the provincial government is bullish on funding big-ticket projects, such as local road connectivity, power, electricity, and water systems. Defensor said a huge chunk of the budget amounting to more than PHP4.47 billion will come from the national tax allocation and the remaining will be drawn from local sources. Of the total budget, PHP2.98 billion will go to current operating expenses, consisting of PHP1.792 billion for miscellaneous and other operating expenses, PHP1.18 billion for personal services, and PHP10 million for capital outlay. The Local Economic Enterprise, which sources from the estimated collection and service incomes of the 11 district hospitals and one provincial hospital, is a separate entity and will not be combined with the general fund. 'That is going to be passed before the end of the year. In our experience, our Sangguniang (Panlalawigan or local council) passes our budget before the end of the year,' the governor said. Source: Philippines News agency